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Wizards aim for first road win in Cleveland

Feb 13, 2011 - 3:48 PM (Sports Network) - Cleveland's long national nightmare may be over but the Washington Wizards wake up call is still pending.

The Wizards hope to snap a 25-game road losing streak tonight when they visit a Cavaliers team fresh off halting an NBA record 26-game overall skid. Washington, which is closing in on Dallas' NBA-record 0-29 road start in 1992-93, had also dropped seven straight in Cleveland

Apparently, all Cleveland needed to stop its lengthy hiccup was a little more Mo. Mo Williams returned to the court for the first time since Jan. 15 on Friday, posting 17 points and 14 assists to spark the Cavaliers to a 126-119 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Clippers.

The Cavaliers broke the longest losing streak in NBA history, and won for the first time since a 109-102 overtime decision against the New York Knicks on Dec. 18. They also snapped an 11-game home losing streak.

"It is kind of bitter sweet, I'm glad it's over with," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said. "If we would have played this hard last game we would have won."

While Williams was present for most of the losses early in the Cavaliers' streak, his performance off the bench Friday enabled teammates to focus on scoring.

"[The Cavaliers] are a different team with their starting point guard," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "We couldn't control the penetration they were using with him."

Ex-Wizard Antawn Jamison poured in 35 points, including a crucial three- pointer with 22.1 seconds left in overtime. J.J. Hickson had 27 with 14 rebounds, and blocked a potential game-winning shot at the end of regulation, while Daniel Gibson scored nine of his 17 points in the extra frame as the Cavs avoided setting a new record for North American pro sports. The NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers also lost 26 straight games from 1976-77.

The Wizards, meanwhile, just finished a 1-3 homestand by falling to San Antonio, 118-94, on Saturday. Tony Parker set the tone in that one by scoring 14 of his 18 points in the opening quarter.

The Wizards, who lost for the ninth time in 10 contests overall, were paced by Andray Blatche's 16 points and nine rebounds. Cartier Martin also scored 16 in defeat.

"They hit shots. It seemed like they couldn't miss. The rim was wide open for them," Blatche said. "Our intensity level wasn't there the whole game."

Tonight's contest will also mark the first time Jamison has played his former team since being dealt to Cleveland almost a year ago. Jamison played 5 1/2 seasons with the Wizards and missed Cleveland's earlier 107-102 win over Washington on Nov. 6 with a balky knee.